Chinese Medicinal Wines and Elixirs

Alcohol is a powerful substance.
In the body and in small amounts, it can supplement and move the qi and blood, scatter cold, and vitalize the spirit.
In large amounts, of course, alcohol is injurious to body and mind.
For over 200 years, in Chinese medicine, alcohol has been mixed with a large variety of medicinal substances to make medicinal wines and liquers.
These medicinal wines are especially useful for the treatment of traumatic injuries, bi syndromes, and debility in the aged.
However, they can also be used for a host of other problems.
This book contains the ingredients, method of preparation and administration, indications, and contraindication of over 200 authentic Chinese medicinal wines. Translated from both premodern and contemporary Chinese sources, this book is the largest and most complete on this subject in English.
These wines are easy to make, often requiring only one or two ingredients.
Thus they do not require a huge, on-site pharmacy. Many of these ingredients are available at health food and Oriental food stores.
Ninety-five percent of the rest of the ingredients listed in the formulas in this book can be obtained by mail from any of a number of suppliers whose addresses are given inside.
That makes these formulas perfect for use as adjunctive remedies for acupuncturists. In addition, patient compliance in taking these wines is high.
The author, Bob Flaws, is an internationally known author, lecturer, and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has written, translated, and edited over 50 books [now over 100] on all aspects of Oriental medicine.

This book contains the ingredients, method of preparation and administration, indications, and contraindications for over 200 authentic Chinese medicinal wines and longevity elixirs as well as sources for the ingredients used.
Because the administration and preparation of these wines is easy and patient compliance is high, these formulas are perfect for use as adjunctive remedies for acupuncturists.

I’ve been interested in Chinese medicinal wines and elixirs for more than 25 years, from the time I was a martial artist.
I still enjoy making and drinking these wines.
— Bob Flaws

Chinese Medicinal Wines & Elixirs is an important and informative book that gives the history of medicinal wines in China. Few English-language books are written on Chinese medicinal wines. This one provides good guidelines for proper usage of wines with Chinese medicinal herbs…
This knowledge from more than 3,000 years of Chinese medicine is valuable.
The recipes in this book are beneficial not only to medical professionals but also to the lay public.
— Alternative Therapies, 1995

The wines are easy and quick to make, and this seems an excellent, almost too good to be true addition to prescribing enjoyable and easy to take medicines in a comforting bottle.
— Journal of Chinese Medicine (UK), 1995